正文
A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years. She regretted immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back.
有个好心肠的女士对自己多年的好友说了些伤感情的话。她说完就后悔了，恨不能把话收回来。
What she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused. In an effort to undo（解开） what she had done, she went to an older, wise woman in the village, explained her situation, and asked for advice.
伤害已经造成，不但朋友很受伤，连她自己也很受伤。为了弥补过错，这位好心肠的女士去村里找到一位年纪较长的智慧女人，她说明了来意，想问问看该怎么办才好。
Listening to her, the older woman sensed the younger woman's distress and knew she must help her. She also knew she could never alleviate（缓和） the pain, but she could teach. She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger woman.
年长女人听明来意，感觉到了来人的沮丧，决定帮忙。她知道自己不能减轻事情已经造成的痛苦，但是她可以教她点儿道理。她也知道事情的结果完全要看来人的性格了。
She said, “Tonight, take your best feather（用羽毛装饰） pillows and put single feather on the doorstep（门阶） of each house in the town before the sun rises.” The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore, even though the feather pillows were very dear to her.
智慧女人说：“今天晚上，拿出你最好的羽绒枕头，天亮之前，挨家挨户把里面的每一片羽毛放在村里每一户人家的台阶上。” 年轻女人急忙回家准备开始干活儿，尽管这些羽绒枕头对她来讲是十分珍贵的。
All night long, she labored alone in the cold. Finally the sky was getting light, she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose, she returned to the older woman.
一整晚天寒地冻的，她独自一人忙活着。终于天快亮了的时候，她在最后一户人家的台阶上放完了最后一片羽毛。太阳升起的时候，她去找这位年长的智者。
“Now,” said the wise woman, “go back and refill your pillows with the feather you have put on the steps. Then everything will be as it was before.” “You know that's impossible! The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps!” The young woman was surprised.
“现在开始，”智者说，“你回去把放在台阶上的羽毛都收回来，塞回枕头里去。所有的事情就都恢复原样了。” “你明知道那不可能！我刚在台阶上放下羽毛，风就把它们都吹走了。”年轻女人吃惊了。
“That's true,” said the older woman. “Never forget each of your words is like a feather in the wind, once spoken, no amount of effort, regardless of how heartfelt or sincere, can never return to your mouth. Choose your words well and guard them, especially in the presence of those you love.”
“说得没错。”智者说，“永远别忘了，你说的每一个字都像风里的一片羽毛。一旦轻易说出口了，别管多么真心，多么有诚意，都无法再回到嘴里。要注意措辞，慎重出口啊，尤其在你爱的人面前。”
鉴于覆水难收(What is done cannot be undone.)，还需谨言慎行。
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